A Stretch of Analogy: National Deterrence to Individual Deterrence

Pakistan is a nuclear power today. Given its political and economic conditions, it is dazzling. A million dollar question is why?

First and foremost is long-rooted hatred of Hindus towards Muslims who were siblings at a one point in time. The subcontinent has always been an attraction for military adventurers from the time of Alexander. However, after Alexander, most of the times they were Muslims till the advent of the British. In pursuance of the ‘divide and rule’ dictum, British taught a distorted history. On realizing that whenever invaders (Muslims for them) came from elsewhere and easily defeated local armies (read Hindu armies) without much effort and ruled over India, Hindus developed an inferiority complex. While Muslims (as geographical Hindus) have more in common with Hindus, being their siblings long ago, they very conveniently sided with the conquerors thus strengthening the Hindu inferiority complex. Hindus, as it is seen, remained subjects of ‘Muslims’ and subjects be they Hindus or Muslims, do not like their masters.

With this inferiority complex well established, lack of communal harmony was a forgone conclusion for India. Finally this led to the agonizing partition and birth of two nation states - India and Pakistan. The bloodbath (mostly of Muslims) and political rhetoric by Indian leaders at the eve of partition to ‘undo’ the partition and bring Pakistan to its knees sowed the seeds of ‘survival problem’ for Pakistan. Pakistan has an India-phobia -- always felt endangered for its existence from India. A torturous manifestation of this was seen by Pakistanis in Indian occupation of Kashmir on dubious grounds, even by provisions of Partition of India Act let alone by International Law. This phobia got further fueled by India’s hegemonious aspirations and the track record gives no reason to disagree with this notion. (A case in point is East Pakistan becoming Bangladesh.)

Second and perhaps also very important is a kind of superiority complex of Muslims. The “we have ruled Hindus for 1000 years” thing. And they can not think of giving in before India and becoming a nonentity such as such Sri Lanka and Nepal/Bhutan.

Third and perhaps the most important is that the only prevalent rule in the world is ‘might is right.’ A country is supposed to safeguard herself on her own. No one will come to anyone’s rescue. Pakistan learned it the hard way in 1965 and more so in 1971 when we kept awaiting the yellows from north and whites from south until it was too late.

UNO which is supposed to safeguard the rights of weak nations is an instrument in the hands of powerful nations. No weak nation has ever got any benefit from UNO on issues of sovereignty and national security. Why should Pakistan be an exception and bet its national pride and future on a lame duck such as the UNO?

Right lesson learned, perhaps for this first time in the gloomy history of Pakistan, was to safeguard herself on her own. Thus, Pakistan ‘ate grass’ to have ‘nuclear deterrent’ for survival. While East Pakistan’s secession is primarily an outcome of West Pakistan chauvinism, it’s a safe bet that India would never have dared to intervene in East Pakistan had Pakistan been nuclear at that time.

[Non existence of deterrence can play havoc. Recent history is full of examples to this effect. In Iraq it was not the presence of WMDs which prompted America to attack. Actually it was the other way round. America knew for sure that Iraq had no WMDs and she will not be able to respond. If someone disagrees with this then why is America not attacking North Korea or Iran and resorting to lengthening dialogue with its European allies? On the other hand, in case of Iraq, its limits of forbearance crossed very soon. It went solo.]

So what made Pakistan go nuclear was a fear of survival in an unjust world where jungle rule prevails and flourishes, day by day. There is no escape from aggression unless retaliatory means of balking enemy attack are available.

Now, please let me stretch this analogy to perhaps an unbearable extent. If this is true for Pakistan in the world, it is also applicable for an ordinary citizen of Pakistan.

Our land of the pure has become the world of Mr. Bush where one is as much respected as the level of power one wields and/or the dirty money one can flaunt (and throw away). One can say that it was always like this but the current level is unheard of. Living a respectable life is becoming more and more difficult (if I may say, impossible).

Life, respect and property of the common man are in constant danger. Law and order situation is worsening. Looting, extortions, robbery, rapes and gang rapes are common.

And police, supposedly custodians of law, have made lives of common folks a living hell. They are working as an instrument of repression in the hands of the powerful. Be it a minor confrontation with a police constable at a traffic signal or God forbid one gets entangled with the custodians of law on a serious issue -- everyone gets humiliated.

The only accepted currencies with Police are power and money -- a few bucks or a telephone call from someone high up or in some cases, both. And that is all; they would work with diligence and adroitness making sure the aggrieved does not get justice. They would be nothing more than just pimps in horrendous rape of PPC on a daily basis (and thus of the very citizens, with whose taxes they get paid).

Don’t take the old crap that Police has no other respite - they can not make both ends meet with their meager salaries.

A Police job has become a goldmine and everyone appreciates this. Fortunes are spent to become a petty constable. It is also not a secret that ‘valuable’ police stations are auctioned giving it a whole investment orientation. What can you expect from an investment manager who has ‘invested’ for a fixed term and outcomes depend on his ‘performance.’ And our police are deft enough to ensure higher return on their investment.

Courts also sacrifice their consciences at alters of money/power and abet making lives of common mortals miserable.

To legalize the extortion and exploitation by the elite, they are given permits and licenses to all kind of fire arms which they brandish with impunity. Gangsters can also roam with their automatic arms without licenses with a similar impunity. However, all is forbidden to a common citizen on spurious logic. The only plausible logic is to avoid any ‘deterrence’ to the powerful.

And the government cannot be blamed for all this misery. It has already accepted its inability in protecting the citizenry by giving licenses to open ‘security agencies.’ One has to hire a security agency if he is really interested in saving his life, respect and property. But this is also a safeguard specifically aimed at the elite.

Crime rates and above all gang rapes are only an outcome of lack of deterrence. I bet the crime rate would substantially go down if everyone is given the right to arms. Provide a level playing field to masses.

Baluchistan and NWFP have the lowest crime rates. Why? Every one knows that they have the capability to reciprocate even more violently.

Is the common citizen not facing a jungle law? If this is the case, then why he is not allowed to have deterrence? It may seem to be an uncivilized suggestion but don’t we know that everyone is allowed to keep personal arms in America, avowedly the most civilized nation on this earth?